BIRDS OF THE WOODS 47 



game-preserving districts on account of its fondness for 

 eggs. 



Nest. April. One brood. 



Site. Among the smaller branches at the top of some 

 tall tree ; sometimes in a thick hawthorn hedge. 



Materials. Sticks and turf plastered with mud, lined 

 with mud and fine grass. Cup deep, over which a basket- 

 like dome of thorny sticks is placed. 



Eggs. Six to nine. Pale bluish green, thickly spotted 

 and speckled with olive-brown and blotched with faint 

 ash-grey. 



CARRION CROW (Corvus corone). 



Pretty well distributed in well-wooded districts ; 

 commoner in Scotland, and rare in Ireland. 



Haunts. Well-wooded districts, estuaries, sea-cliffs, 

 &c. 



Observation. Distinguish from Rook by absence of 

 white nude patch at base of the bill. 



Plumage. Black, with green and purple reflections. 

 Bill and legs black. Length 19 in. Female, less lustrous. 

 Young, still duller. 



Language. A hoarse " horr," rather like the Rook's, 

 but rougher. 



Habits. Somewhat resembling the Raven. Flight 

 laboured, but nevertheless strong and rapid. At a 

 distance indistinguishable from the Rook, but always 

 seen singly or in pairs never in flocks. 



Food. Carrion principally, but it will kill birds and 

 small mammals too weak or sickly to defend themselves. 



Nest. April or May. One brood. 



Site. In a tall tree or on a ledge in a cliff. 



Materials. Sticks, twigs, plastered with mud, and 

 lined with grass, roots, fur, wool, hair, feathers, &c. 



Eggs. Four to six. Bluish green, spotted and blotched 

 with olive-brown and some markings of purplish grey. 

 Like the Raven's, but smaller. 



